National League North


The National League North, formerly Conference North, is a division of the National League in England, taking its place immediately below the top division National League. Along with the National League South, it is at Step 2 of the National League System and the sixth overall tier of the English football league system. It consists of teams located in Northern England, Norfolk and the English Midlands. Since the start of the 2015–16 season, the league has been known as the National League North. As part of a sponsorship deal with Vanarama, the National League North was renamed the Vanarama National League North.

History

The Conference North was introduced in 2004 as part of a major restructuring of English non-League football. The champions are automatically promoted to the National League. A second promotion place goes to the winners of play-offs involving the teams finishing in second to seventh place. The three bottom clubs are relegated to Step 3 leagues. Teams from this division, as well as from the National League South, enter the FA Cup at the Second Qualifying Round.
For sponsorship reasons, the division was known as the Nationwide North from its formation in 2004 until 2007, when it was renamed the Blue Square North. In 2010 it was renamed the Blue Square Bet North. When the Blue Square sponsorship ended in 2013, it was renamed the Skrill North until the 2014–15 season, when it was renamed the Vanarama North. A further name change followed in 2015, when the division was renamed the Vanarama National League North.
The National League North will expand to 24 teams in 2021, when the bottom two clubs will be relegated and four promoted from Step 3 after the 2020–21 season. Four will be relegated starting in 2022.

Member clubs for 2019–20

The member clubs for the 2019–20 season are as follows:
ClubFinishing position 2018–19
A.F.C. Telford United8th
Alfreton Town15th
Altrincham5th
Blyth Spartans6th
Boston United11th
Brackley Town3rd
Bradford 7th
Chester9th
Curzon Ashton18th
Darlington16th
Farsley Celtic1st in Northern Premier League Premier Division
GatesheadDemoted from National League Premier Division
Gloucester City17th in National League South
Guiseley19th
Hereford17th
Kettering Town1st in Southern League Central Premier Division
Kidderminster Harriers10th
King's Lynn2nd in Southern League Central Premier Division
Leamington13th
Southport14th
Spennymoor Town4th
York City12th

League champions

The winners of the league title and the winners of the play-off final since the league's formation in 2004 are as follows:
SeasonWinnerPlay-off Winner
2004–05SouthportAltrincham
2005–06Northwich VictoriaStafford Rangers
2006–07DroylsdenFarsley Celtic
2007–08Kettering TownBarrow
2008–09TamworthGateshead
2009–10SouthportFleetwood Town
2010–11Alfreton TownA.F.C. Telford United
2011–12HydeNuneaton Town
2012–13ChesterF.C. Halifax Town
2013–14A.F.C. Telford UnitedAltrincham
2014–15BarrowGuiseley
2015–16Solihull MoorsNorth Ferriby United
2016–17A.F.C. FyldeF.C. Halifax Town
2017–18Salford CityHarrogate Town
2018–19Stockport CountyChorley
2019–20King's Lynn Town

League stadiums for 2019/20

The stadiums of all the teams in the league for the 2019/20 season are listed below:
TeamStadiumCapacitySeated Capacity
A.F.C. Telford UnitedNew Bucks Head6,3002,200
Alfreton TownNorth Street3,6001,500
AltrinchamMoss Lane6,0851,323
Blyth SpartansCroft Park4,435560
Boston UnitedYork Street6,6431,826
Brackley TownSt. James Park3,500600
Bradford Horsfall Stadium3,5001,247
ChesterDeva Stadium5,3764,170
Curzon AshtonTameside Stadium4,000527
DarlingtonBlackwell Meadows3,299588
Farsley CelticThe Citadel3,900400
GatesheadGateshead International Stadium11,80011,800
Gloucester CityJubilee Stadium3,000300
GuiseleyNethermoor Park4,000500
HerefordEdgar Street4,9132,750
Kettering TownLatimer Park3,211584
Kidderminster HarriersAggborough6,2383,140
King's LynnThe Walks8,2001,200
LeamingtonNew Windmill Ground3,000250
SouthportHaig Avenue6,0081,660
Spennymoor TownThe Brewery Field6,000300
York CityBootham Crescent8,2563,409

League records

Record home winFleetwood Town 8–0 Redditch United, 14 November 2009
Altrincham 8–0 Hinckley United, 17 November 2012
Record away winRedditch United 0–9 Boston United, 21 August 2010
Highest-scoring gameA.F.C. Fylde 9–2 Boston United, 19 November 2016
Most points in a season107 points – Chester
Most wins in a season34 – Chester
Fewest defeats in a season3 – Chester
Most goals scored in a season109 – A.F.C. Fylde
Largest positive goal difference71 – Chester
Most league titles2 – Southport
Most consecutive wins15 games – Northwich Victoria
Most consecutive clean sheets10 games – Boston United
Longest unbeaten run30 games – Chester
Largest Attendance6311 – Stockport County